New Delhi: The response to the terror attack in the heart of the capital on Monday evening was swift and resolute inside the emergency wards and ICUs of Delhi govt’s Lok Nayak (LNJP) Hospital. More than 50 doctors and others have been working without pause since Monday night, battling to save lives.Amputations had to be carried out, and crush injuries to wounds caused by shrapnel and pellets, broken bones and eardrums ruptured due to intense shockwaves dealt with round the clock by the dedicated team. Hospital officials said around 25 patients are currently under their care with no one sent to other facilities so far.The hospital’s 70-bed disaster ward, created for emergencies of this scale, was activated within minutes of the first casualties arriving. “As soon as the blast victims started coming in, the disaster ward was opened. All departments were alerted and over 50 doctors from orthopaedics, burns and plastic, neurosurgery, general surgery, casualty and ICU began treating them,” an official said.Doctors said at least four blast victims suffered pneumothorax — a condition in which air leaks into the space between the lungs and chest wall, causing the lungs to collapse — after being hit by the explosion’s shockwave. They were treated with intercostal (between the ribs) drainage tubes to remove the trapped air and help the lungs expand again. Several others were being treated by ENT specialists for eardrum rupture.Officials said overall eight patients are critical. “At the burns centre, four patients have minor injuries while three with severe burns are in a critical condition. Another three with head and other major injuries are under neurosurgical care,” said a senior doctor.While the numbers could not be officially corroborated, sources said some victims lost limbs — including legs and fingers — in the blast. At least one patient is reported to have undergone a major amputation.Seven patients also suffered injuries caused by fragments of glass and automobile debris. “Due to the varied nature of injuries — from burns and crush wounds to head trauma — the patients are being managed by multiple specialists,” the doctor added, clarifying that the burns were caused by flames and not chemicals.”As of now, the situation is under control. Those who have identified the bodies of people who died in the blast have been handed over the remains. The families of the other victims who are receiving treatment have been allowed to meet them,” another senior official said.
